Ian Rutherford

{{Short description|New Zealand cricketer (1957–2026)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2013}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Ian Rutherford | image = | country = New Zealand | fullname = Ian Alexander Rutherford | birth_date = {{Birth date|1957|6|30|df=yes}} | birth_place = Dunedin, New Zealand | death_date = {{Death date and age|2026|4|2|1957|6|30|df=yes}} | death_place = Ettrick, New Zealand | family = {{ubl|Ken Rutherford (brother)|{{nowrap|Hamish Rutherford (nephew)}}}} | batting = Right-handed | bowling = {{ubl|Right-arm medium|Right-arm off break}} | role = | club1 = Otago | year1 = {{nowrap|1974–75 – 1976–77}} | club2 = Worcestershire | year2 = 1976 | club3 = Central Districts | year3 = 1977–78 | club4 = Wanganui | year4 = 1977–78 | club5 = Otago | year5 = 1978–79 – 1983–84 | club6 = Central Otago | year6 = 1981–82 – 1985–86 | type1 = FC | debutdate1 = 26 December | debutyear1 = 1974 | debutfor1 = Otago | debutagainst1 = Canterbury | lastdate1 = 6 March | lastyear1 = 1984 | lastfor1 = Otago | lastagainst1 = Central Districts | type2 = LA | debutdate2 = 30 November | debutyear2 = 1975 | debutfor2 = Otago | debutagainst2 = Canterbury | lastdate2 = 23 January | lastyear2 = 1983 | lastfor2 = Otago | lastagainst2 = Canterbury | columns = 2 | column1 = First-class | matches1 = 79 | runs1 = 3,794 | bat avg1 = 27.10 | 100s/50s1 = 5/16 | top score1 = 222 | deliveries1 = 79 | wickets1 = 1 | bowl avg1 = 28.00 | fivefor1 = 0 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 1/8 | catches/stumpings1 = 50/– | column2 = List A | matches2 = 21 | runs2 = 449 | bat avg2 = 21.38 | 100s/50s2 = 1/1 | top score2 = 100 | deliveries2 = 8 | wickets2 = 0 | bowl avg2 = – | fivefor2 = – | tenfor2 = – | best bowling2 = – | catches/stumpings2 = 13/– | source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/22/22798/22798.html CricketArchive | date = 20 October | year = 2023 }}

'''Ian Alexander Rutherford''' (30 June 1957 – 2 April 2026) was a New Zealand cricketer who played for Central Districts and Otago between 1974 and 1984.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ian Rutherford |url=https://archive.nzc.nz/Players/22/22798/22798.html |publisher=NZ Cricket |access-date=8 April 2026}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ian Rutherford profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/ian-rutherford-38364 |access-date=2022-05-19 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> In 1978–79 in the Shell Trophy Final he batted for 625 minutes for his highest first-class score of 222 for Otago against Central Districts in New Plymouth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/38/38951.html|title=Central Districts v Otago – Shell Trophy 1978/79 (Final)|date=12 March 1979|publisher=Cricket Archive|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref> He was the older brother of Ken Rutherford. He also played for Central Otago in the Hawke Cup.

Rutherford played 79 first class matches and scored 3794 runs at an average of 27.10 with five centuries and 16 fifties. He also played 21 List A matches, scoring 449 runs at an average of 14.96 with one century and one fifty.<ref name=":0" /> He was described as "a dependable presence at the top of the order". He was also a member of three Otago Plunket Shield-winning sides.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Otago Cricket Association |url=https://www.otagocricket.co.nz/otagoca |access-date=2026-04-16 |website=www.otagocricket.co.nz}}</ref>

Rutherford was a patron of the Molyneux Cricket Club in Alexandra.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 April 2026 |title=Central Beat - Easter road toll |url=https://centralapp.nz/NewsStory/central-beat-easter-road-toll/69d46fa83d057a002ebfbfd2}}</ref>

Rutherford died as a result of a car collision near Ettrick in Central Otago, on 2 April 2026, at the age of 68.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/cricket/former-otago-stalwart-remembered-‘top-man’-after-crash-death |title=Former Otago stalwart remembered as 'top man' after crash death |first=Hayden |last=Meikle |date=6 April 2026 |work=Otago Daily Times |access-date=8 April 2026}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rutherford, Ian}} Category:1957 births Category:2026 deaths Category:New Zealand cricketers Category:Central Districts cricketers Category:Otago cricketers Category:Worcestershire cricketers Category:New Zealand expatriate cricketers in England Category:Cricketers from Dunedin Category:South Island cricketers Category:North Island cricketers Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen Category:Road incident deaths in New Zealand